They looked, but there was no one to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
Parallel translations
- KJV They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
- BSB They looked, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer.
- NKJV They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NASB “They looked, but there was no one to save them; Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
- NLT They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David's enemies looked for a savior, even cried to the LORD, but found no answer. Those who oppose God's anointed have no deliverer.
Overview
In their extremity the foes find no rescuer, and even their cry to Yahweh goes unanswered because they stood against his purposes. The verse sobers us with the reality that there is no salvation apart from genuine submission to God. It warns that to set oneself against God's anointed King is to be left without help.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Isa 1:15When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.
- 1 Sam 28:6When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him by dreams, by Urim, or by prophets.
- Prov 1:28Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
- Mic 3:4Then they will cry to Yahweh, but he will not answer them. Yes, he will hide his face from them at that time, because they made their deeds evil.”
- Matt 7:22–23Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’
- Job 27:9Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?
- Luke 13:25–26When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
- Ezek 20:3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 22:42 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.